Progress has been made towards the global cruise industry’s goal of nett-zero carbon cruising by 2050, according to Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) recent 2022 Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report.
The report reinforces the cruise industry’s credentials as an innovator and early adopter of environmental technologies. Examples cited include the increasing number of vessels launching over the next few years that will be able to incorporate zero-emissions propulsion when available, as well as the growing investment to equip ships to plug in to shoreside electricity where available.
In fact, more than 15% of the vessels to be launched in the next five years will be equipped to incorporate fuel cells or batteries, and 85% of CLIA-member ships coming online between now and 2028 will be able to plug in to shoreside electricity, allowing engines to switch off at berth for significant emissions reduction.
“Innovation and engineering are at the heart of the industry’s vision for nett-zero carbon cruising. The cruise industry continues to lead the way by investing billions to incorporate new technologies, accelerate development of sustainable marine fuels – in particular, engines capable of using sustainable marine fuels – and enable shoreside electricity connectivity on existing and new ships,” says President and CEO of CLIA, Kelly Craighead. “These are the fundamental building blocks for the decarbonisation of global shipping, and we are acting now for the future.”
Despite progress made, the report makes clear that a transition to sustainable marine fuels remains essential to achieving the maritime industry’s decarbonisation goals and highlights the urgent need for governments to support research to develop these fuels so that they are safe, viable and available for use.
“The cruise industry has always been and will continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation when it comes to environmental and maritime technologies,” says Chairman of CLIA Global, Pierfrancesco Vago, who is also Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. “For this next phase of our journey to nett-zero as an industry, we now need clear support from governments and policy-makers to ensure that the right infrastructure is developed also on land, and to encourage the investment and innovation that will be required for the development of sustainable marine fuels at scale.”
CLIA supports the Getting to Zero Coalition’s Call to Action for Decarbonisation of Shipping. This is in addition to partnerships with other coalitions and organisations that are working to find critical decarbonisation solutions.
